Puyallup City Council Regular Meeting - January 27, 2026

The Puyallup City Council met in person at City Hall on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 6:30 PM. All seven councilmembers were present: Mayor Witting, Deputy Mayor Johnson, Councilmembers Adler, Gilliam, Kastama, King, and Smolko. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, a consent agenda, a public hearing on the Good Samaritan Hospital Master Plan Development Agreement, second readings of two ordinances, a presentation of the Development and Permitting Services 2026 Work Plan, committee appointments, and an executive session. Key actions included approval of the development agreement, adoption of the Commute Trip Reduction Plan, passage of solid waste billing amendments, and a vote to launch an independent investigation into a councilmember complaint.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (6-0; Johnson absent during voting):
  • Accept the Clarks Creek Pump Station Replacement project as complete.
  • Authorize a change order with RW Scott Construction Co. for the Sound Transit Access Improvement project.
  • Authorize an addendum to an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Sunnyside for incarceration.
  • Authorize a Final Utility Relocation Agreement with Guy F. Atkinson Construction, LLC, for SR 167 Stage 2A.
  • Accept a Solid Waste Management Ramp Litter Clean Up grant from Washington State Department of Ecology.
  • Authorize a contract with Psomas, Inc., for 9th Avenue SW improvements.
  • Authorize a contract with Conquer Addiction, PLLC for jail health care services.
  • Authorize a contract with Brown and Caldwell for 4th Street NW Storm Replacement design/construction management.
  • Authorize a contract with Murrey's Disposal Company for solid waste, recyclables, and yard waste collection.
  • Item 4.g (contract with Atwell, LLC for bike lanes) was pulled to item 8.b for further discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Hopkins (District 1): Praised the council for proactively organizing the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, noting it required courage beyond a proclamation. He acknowledged Puyallup's rapidly changing demographics and expressed appreciation for the council's leadership.
• Trevor Baumgardner (LPN at Good Samaritan Hospital, SEIU Northwest 1199 union delegate): Stated the hospital's emergency room is the fourth busiest in the nation. Expressed the union's aim to grow with the hospital, emphasizing safe staffing levels, competitive wages, and quality healthcare for the community.
• Penni Thorpe: Acknowledged the long history of both the Puyallup Tribe and European settlers. Requested appointment of city council liaisons to the Puyallup Tribe and the school district, and advocated for establishing a code of ethics for council, noting other city councils in the county already have such codes.
• Andrelyn Izquierdo (Pierce County District 2): Addressed human trafficking and slavery issues, stating she has helped save over 47 victims. Called for more preventative measures and systemic changes to close gaps in oppression.
• Valorie Dent (District 2): Expressed frustration with traffic issues on Shaw Road, attributing current problems to council approvals of developments like Emerald Ridge and Sunrise in 1983. She criticized the council for not engaging with her directly.

Public Hearing on Good Samaritan Hospital Development Agreement (7:18 PM – 7:22 PM):

• Andrelyn Izquierdo: Raised concerns about medical service cost transparency, but was ruled out of order as not related to the master plan.
• Trevor Baumgardner: Advocated for additional facilities including safe parking structures with hybrid and electric charging stations for patients, visitors, and employees to support quality service delivery.
• Valorie Dent: Raised concerns about increased ambulance and paramedic traffic near the hospital, noting a shift from six incidents per week to potentially six per day. Stressed the need for comprehensive infrastructure upgrades on surrounding streets, especially 12th Avenue, to support the hospital's expansion.

Discussion Items

Proclamations

• Proclamation honoring Ken Martin: Mayor Witting read a proclamation honoring former Mayor Ken Martin (lifelong resident, Army/Air Force veteran, two decades of civic leadership). Martin passed away on December 28, 2025. His daughter, Jackie Morrell, accepted the proclamation. Councilmembers shared personal tributes highlighting his integrity, humility, and influence on civic projects (Pioneer Park, City Hall, library, pavilion).
• Proclamation honoring Black History Month: Mayor Witting declared February 2026 as Black History Month. He noted the success of Puyallup's first community-wide Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Dr. Chio Flores, President of Pierce College Puyallup, accepted on behalf of the college, joined by staff and students. She emphasized that about 9% of the college's students identify as Black and the proclamation affirms belonging.

Public Hearing and Development Agreement – Good Samaritan Hospital Master Plan

Senior Planner Chris Beal presented the development agreement for the hospital master plan approved by council on June 10, 2025, supported by an Environmental Impact Statement (May 2025). The plan governs 20-year build-out and expansion of the campus. Key elements:

• New patient care tower: 160 new licensed inpatient beds, 30 observational beds (transferred to Dally Tower), plus a shell floor for 40 future inpatient beds (total 200 new beds).
• Other phases: Parking structures, central utility plant expansion, two medical office buildings, central support tower, Dally Tower third street expansion.
• Development agreement framework: Outlines permit processing timelines, street frontage improvements (customized per phase), timing of emergency room ambulance bay expansion, and procedures for reassessing traffic impacts if project scope changes.
• Street frontage improvements: Phased improvements to curb, gutter, sidewalk, ADA upgrades, crosswalks on streets like 13th Avenue.
• Ambulance bay: Phase 1 maximizes existing space for queuing and overflow parking; Phase 2 (later) includes major expansion.

Council discussion: Members underscored urgency to balance current and future community needs, focusing on traffic and parking impacts, transparency, and coordination among stakeholders. Motion to approve resolution authorizing City Manager to execute the Development Agreement passed 7-0.

Second Reading – Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan 2025-2029 & Municipal Code Amendment

Senior Planner Kendall Wals addressed council questions from the first reading:

• Mandatory: Required under the Clean Air Act; the city is one of the most populous counties in the state.
• Consequences of non-participation: Loss of funding and potential penalties; employers would still be required to participate through another agency.
• Data: 73% of CTR participants in Pierce County drive alone; 27% use alternative means. Among surveyed employees (225,000 in 2023-2024), 50% chose alternatives to driving alone, compared to 35% statewide and 31% nationally.
• City financial commitment: Approximately $5,500 per year for the city's own program; state provides $31,300 over two years, but those funds are passed to Pierce County under an interlocal agreement. City staff time is about 17 hours per year for administration, plus 72 hours for the update.

Council discussion: Support for transit as part of an integrated system. A cost-benefit analysis was suggested but noted as not done. Council clarified the city's spending is under $10,000. Motion to approve second reading passed 7-0 on roll call.

Second Reading – Solid Waste Billing Ordinance (Section 6.12.045)

Motion to approve passed 7-0 on roll call.

Development and Permitting Services (DPS) 2026 Work Plan Presentation

Director Courtney Brunell and Planning Manager Katie Baker presented a comprehensive work plan for code updates. Six proposed packages:

1. Title 19 Subdivisions (February): Expand short plats from 4 to 9 lots; address unit lot subdivisions (Senate Bill 5258) to allow middle housing units to be sold individually; incorporate SB 5290 permit timelines into code.
2. Zoning Map Amendments Phase 1 (February): Direct implementation of adopted Future Land Use Map (one-to-one correspondence); remove SHA East Pioneer Overlay and Design Review Overlay.
3. Middle Housing (late Feb/early March): Implement House Bill 1110; prohibit middle housing in identified volcanic hazard area; includes accessory dwelling unit regulations.
4. Critical Areas Ordinance (spring): Align with best available science; reissue CEPA after tribal consultation.
5. Design Standards & Housekeeping (June study session, August adoption): Meet House Bill 1293 (clear/objective standards); consolidate three design code sections; remove redundant EV infrastructure chapter; consolidate wireless facility chapters.
6. Zoning Map Phase 2 (April policy direction, October adoption): Detailed analysis of residential zones (consolidate five single-family zones into fewer), commercial zones (remove OP zone, update ML, etc.), mixed-use zones (rewrite LMX, consider converting CMX to UCX, density/height changes), manufacturing zones (update business park and ML), and the fair zone (parking allowances, use allowances, master plan thresholds).

Council discussion:

• Mayor Witting noted the code is significantly outdated due to normal transitions, state mandates, and the new comprehensive plan. He urged colleagues to work together to avoid delays.
• Deputy Mayor Johnson supported expanding short plats to facilitate infill development. He questioned moving design review from committee to administrative review; Director Brunell confirmed that goal and noted an interim ordinance to address quorum issues at the design review board.
• Councilmember Gilliam raised traffic calming concerns; Director Brunell said it could be considered in code updates but off-site improvements are generally tied to SEPA.
• Councilmember King asked about metrics for permitting delays; Brunell reported near 100% compliance with SB 5290 timelines and robust monitoring dashboards.
• No formal vote; the presentation was informational to receive council feedback.

Committee Appointments (2026-2027)

Mayor Witting presented the proposed slate of councilmember committee assignments, but did not include an appointment to the Pierce Transit Board, stating he wanted to delay due to a pending complaint against councilmembers. Councilmember Gilliam nominated Councilmember Adler for the Pierce Transit Board. Attorney Beck explained that under council rules, the mayor appoints and council confirms; a floor nomination would require suspension of rules. A motion to suspend rules passed 5-2 (Johnson and Witting opposed). Councilmember Adler was then nominated and seconded. Deputy Mayor Johnson initially expressed support for the mayor's prerogative but later withdrew his own name from consideration, urging harmony. The motion to appoint Councilmember Adler to the Pierce Transit Board passed 7-0 on roll call. The overall slate of committee appointments was then approved 7-0.

Bike Lanes Contract (Item 8.b – moved from consent agenda 4.g)

Councilmember Gilliam requested update. City Engineer Hans Hunger explained that after the first public meeting, considerable opposition to eliminating parking on Stewart Street was heard. The city is conducting a comprehensive parking survey of Stewart and intersecting cross streets to assess availability and utilization. Another public meeting will be held in February after the study is complete, and notifications will be sent to residents on Stewart. Motion to approve the contract with Atwell, LLC passed 7-0.

City Manager’s Report

City Manager Steve Kirkelie reminded council that the next meeting will be the annual retreat on February 3-4 at Pierce College, Room 102, Student Services Building. He also noted a traffic calming presentation will be given on the second night of the retreat.

Council Reports

• Councilmember Gilliam: Reported on Puyallup Main Street Association (PMSA) events that drive customers into stores; encouraged following PMSA on social media.
• Councilmember Smolko: Expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with Dr. Flores on MLK Day celebration and promoting cultural conversations.
• Councilmember Kastama: Frustrated with litter on state highways; announced he will join Mayor Witting at future Senior Center meetings.
• Deputy Mayor Johnson: Reflected on the toll of public service and the need for mutual support.

Mayor’s Report

Mayor Witting emphasized the importance of staff’s code update work and urged council to collaborate efficiently.

Executive Session

Council recessed into executive session at 9:08 PM to discuss with city attorneys matters relating to agency enforcement actions and to receive and evaluate complaints or charges against a public officer or employee. The session was expected to last one hour. Council returned at 10:08 PM.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved (6-0; Johnson absent).
• Good Samaritan Hospital Development Agreement resolution approved (7-0).
• Commute Trip Reduction Plan ordinance (second reading) approved (7-0 roll call).
• Solid waste billing ordinance (second reading) approved (7-0 roll call).
• Motion to suspend council rules for floor nomination passed (5-2).
• Councilmember Adler appointed to Pierce Transit Board (7-0).
• 2026-2027 Committee assignments slate approved (7-0).
• Bike lanes contract with Atwell, LLC approved (7-0).
• Motion to authorize independent investigation into a councilmember complaint passed (7-0) after executive session.
• Meeting adjourned at 10:10 PM.